Government of Jamaica
August 19, 2022
KINGSTON, Jamaica- The Ministry of Justice’s, Justice Training Institute (JTI) in partnership with the Warnath Group has developed an online course to identify and interact with child trafficking victims.
The customized training programme for Justice Sector personnel and individuals who may interact with children who are victims of crime, forms part of the Jamaica and United States Child Protection Compact (CPC) Criminal Justice initiative.
The purpose of the CPC partnership, formed in 2018, is to strengthen the efforts of the Jamaican government to effectively prosecute and convict child traffickers, to work with civil society to identify victims of child trafficking, and to provide care for child victims.
The course which will be delivered via an online modality, is designed to allow participants to identify and address child trafficking, to interact with child victims and witnesses of human trafficking in a trauma-informed, child-friendly way, and to raise participants' awareness about where to receive assistance when treating with matters related to child trafficking.
“As the training arm of the Ministry, we are seeking to provide training opportunities as part of our mandate to meet the needs within the justice sector. Our children continue to be targets of human trafficking and we want to expose as many individuals to the realities of this crime, and to put them in a position to assist with anti-human trafficking efforts,” explained Director/Principal of the JTI, Mrs Karen Campbell-Bascoe.
The first offering of the training programme started in August 2022, with a pilot cohort and will continue to be offered in successive months, over several cohorts. After the pilot cohort, the JTI will invite participants from across the wider public and private sector. On successful completion of the course, participants will receive a certificate.
“The course will also empower participants to adopt and use victim-centered techniques when treating with child victims of human trafficking. We are therefore encouraging front-line responders and practitioners to register for this opportunity, as they will gain a deeper understanding and increased knowledge of trafficking regarding child victims and witnesses,” continued Mrs Campbell-Bascoe.
The mandate of the JTI is to provide training and staff development activities of the highest quality to meet the needs and build the capacity of Jamaica’s Justice Sector workers, as well as Justices of the Peace, in accordance with international standards.
